The new Lucifer Was album, Morning Star, marks twenty years since the release of
Underground And Beyond in 1997, and also celebrates twenty great years together for
Lucifer Was and Record Heaven/Transubstans Records. For the occasion, the complete
original 1972 line-up that recorded Underground And Beyond and the follow-up, In Anadi's
Bower, is featured throughout, in addition to the present version of the band.
Morning Star contains seven tracks and includes stand-outs like the hard energy blaster,
A Forest Of Zaqqum Trees, Sunday Morning Griever, which shows Thore Engen's genius as a
songwriter and lyricist, and the 15:25 long heavy/prog/blues/psych/space-masterpiece Pure,
co-written by Engen and singer Jon Ruder. This piece also has a distinct Nordic feel to it. The
two-drummer attack is very present on this colossus of a composition!
One special feature is Sea Of Sleep, the only ever co-written track by Engen and
flautist/singer Dag Stenseng. A more rudimentary version of this song was a staple in the
band's 1972-1974 live repertoire.
The title Morning Star is synonymous with "The Bringer Of Light a.k.a. Lucifer" and can be
seen shining strongest of all in the firmament. It is the planet Venus.
The album is available on CD and high quality Vinyl with a beautiful fold-out cover.